Jennifer Olsen, a petroleum engineer who was unemployed for years while the oil and gas industry was booming around her was recently honored in the Billings Gazette’s annual “40 under 40″ segment. The newspaper lists her many jobs, never mentioning that each employer was actually her father (Eric Olsen) and the companies were often idle due to “government oppression” or some other excuse Jennifer and Eric Olsen used while soliciting donations to progress their political agenda. During their long period of unemployment, Jennifer and her father founded Montana Shrugged, a “tea party” group that advocates selective federalism and operates in a divisive and dishonest manner. Jennifer Olsen also holds the chairwoman position on the Yellowstone County Republican Central Committee. In her free time, she files frivolous and unfounded political practices complaints and apparently scours the internet searching for racist anti-Obama material.

My disdain for the Olsen family is obvious. Posts like the one captured in the following screenshot from Jennifer Olsen’s Facebook page today are why.

Thanks to the first amendment, Americans are able to think whatever they would like as well as express those thoughts, but such expression does has consequences. I discourage Yellowstone County Republican precinct chairs and legislators from turning a blind eye to this blatantly racist post. If Ms Olsen is not held responsible for her actions, we send a message that this behavior is acceptable and perhaps these views are even condoned by the GOP. The Republican Party was founded on abolishing slavery. Why do we now tolerate our leaders advocating bigotry in a public forum? Bigotry is rooted in ignorance and the Republican Party should purge this cancer from the party. Shame on you, Jennifer Olsen. You are a disgrace to your party, to the central committee you chair, to Montana, and to America.